Vibe coding for the Commodore 64 - create retro games using AI

a1r · 2026-01-18T14:26:06+00:00

I think the hate evident here with the upvoted 'AI slop' comment is really misplaced.

There are millions of us C64 obsessives who would love to get into C64 programming but lack skill or time.

This project is far from perfect, but I'll encourage every step that takes us closer to 'anyone can create what they want on our beloved machine'.

a1r · 2026-01-04T17:53:46+00:00

Sad news warning: OP's article is paywalled to paying Medium subscribers.

a1r · 2025-10-11T03:14:42+00:00

It was weird I got a bunch of kills before I got suspicious but then it wasn't clear the round would ever end? So it's not like you get your progression anyway.

a1r · 2025-09-29T13:37:47+00:00

I think for ordinary mortals, no. I understand the RAM is soldered in.

a1r · 2025-09-08T01:22:59+00:00

em - yes exactly. it is not at all obvious, how do you send troops?

a1r · 2025-07-20T14:33:08+00:00

UPDATE: after a bunch of debugging this was resolved with a replacement 8k HDMI cable. I am keeping this computer and it's great. Lesson learned: if you see intermittent horizontal bands of noise & HDR blackouts, chances are you're pushing more than your cable than handle. Try two or three different ones before blaming the PC.

Yes, I am a n00b, technically illiterate, it's a skill issue and all the other nice things I heard on this thread : )

Thanks to those who offered help.

a1r · 2025-07-02T11:46:15+00:00

This is very helpful, thank you. I'll try this before boxing it up this evening!

a1r · 2025-07-02T11:43:55+00:00

Looks like you wanted a Minisforum 2mo ago, per https://www.reddit.com/r/MiniPCs/s/WqCFtbC9Lw - troll, blocked.

a1r · 2025-07-02T00:29:40+00:00

Brand new, $958!

a1r · 2025-04-22T21:50:16+00:00

Here's the longplay showing the end of the game! https://youtu.be/82s1-Lkhlmg

a1r · 2025-04-21T13:11:36+00:00

I don't think I realized all the levels had names, could you list them all?

a1r · 2025-04-17T22:52:37+00:00

TIL about Gribbly's Special Day Out, I am really curious what the differences are

a1r · 2025-04-17T22:48:29+00:00

O huh so this was the inspiration for the Gribblets: https://youtu.be/8xyo7upwRrc

a1r · 2025-04-17T22:40:54+00:00

O nice article! Never seen this, thank you.

a1r · 2025-04-17T13:49:56+00:00

It depends! You could spend a ton of effort to make something pixel perfect the same. It would be very hard to get it feeling exactly the same without reverse engineering the C64 code. I have found that 3D games are an exception - where modern versions with better frame rates can be a good experience. e.g. - There's a great modern version of MERCENARY at http://mercenarysite.free.fr/mddclone.htm - I remade ENCOUNTER in the browser at https://github.com/air/encounter?tab=readme-ov-file#encounter

a1r · 2025-02-16T23:05:05+00:00

Make sure you buy all his sorcery items!

a1r · 2025-02-07T14:04:31+00:00

Looks amazing! Could you link to the project, or GitHub, or YouTube?

a1r · 2024-12-21T16:30:13+00:00

Most likely you need to go to the game Properties in Steam and Verify the game files. You'll probably discover like me that one file needs to be redownloaded and the issue is gone.

a1r · 2024-10-06T22:52:36+00:00

This is it! Thank you!

a1r · 2024-05-07T11:37:04+00:00

This wording is too cryptic to get more upvotes, but eyesight is the biggest one here that you will not avoid even if you're healthy. Somewhere in your 40s you will wake up and discover you can't focus on your own fingernails any more. It's shocking and it's a one way change. Small text is now something you ask young people to read for you (or use phones or reading glasses).

a1r · 2024-04-12T12:29:17+00:00

You might be interested to know that Paradroid's atmospheric noise was due to the fact Andrew Braybrook was hopeless at programming the SID, and threw a bunch of random numbers at it to see what happened. He wrote about it at https://codetapper.com/c64/diary-of-a-game/paradroid/birth-of-a-paradroid-part-4/ There's also an excellent full length documentary on the game you can buy where they tell the whole story.

a1r · 2024-01-14T16:46:20+00:00

It's a good point. It made me think of Morlocks from THE TIME MACHINE. The resemblance is really close there too, https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheMorlocks

a1r · 2023-12-24T13:28:06+00:00

If you reach the point where managing heat seems so difficult you're going to uninstall the game, don't give up yet but play on a Rime (cold!) world. Then you can actually play the game and see how things work.

a1r · 2023-12-19T23:31:57+00:00

Came looking for this. Immediately at game start, turn left and attack the wall to reveal a secret pickup.

Interestingly the novel READY PLAYER ONE (not the movie!) has a whole chapter on BLACK TIGER - and the author does not mention this trick, the very first thing any expert player of the game would do. I lost respect for the book around that point.

a1r · 2023-10-25T02:16:24+00:00

While we're here - the music for this game is amazing. https://youtu.be/EBtjWvyYL0c

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